Only five of the nine companies pre-qualified to submit technical and financial proposals to build and design the New Demerara Harbour Bridge did so yesterday when tenders for the project were opened.
Four of the five are Chinese companies with the procuring entity being the Ministry of Public Works. When the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board yesterday opened the submitted documents, all five contained a technical and financial proposal.
The companies are: China State Construction Eng Corp (China), China Geizhouba Group Co Ltd (China), a group consisting of JV-China Railway International Group Co Ltd; China Railway Major Bridge Eng Group Co Ltd; and China Road & Bridge Corporation.
Local affiliate of the Dutch offshore contractor and maritime services provider, Boskalis Guyana Inc, was the lone non-Chinese owned company.
Companies that did not submit tenders were Peutes y Calzadas Infrastructuras SLU (China and Spain), JV-OECI S.A, Odebrecht Engenharia E. Construcao S A OEC of Brazil, and Ballast Needam Infra Suriname BV.
Evaluation of the submissions will now begin to select a contractor who will design and build the bridge, which has a two-year “non-negotiable’ completion deadline.
The bidding document, seen by the Stabroek News had specified the criteria required for making a bid on the project that stipulates that bidders present proposals for a Design, Build and Finance (DBF) option, or alternatively, Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM).
The Scope of Works included in the design/build contract includes the complete design and construction of a two-lane dual carriageway (4 lane), hybrid cable-stayed centre-span bridge with concrete box/T-beam girder approach bridge structures, and must include bridge collision protection, a navigation span to accommodate Handymax vessel navigation aids, lighting, signage and all other ancillary works, an access road with a minimum of 50 meters up to abutments, toll-collection buildings and ancillary buildings on the West Bank of the Demerara River.
When completed, government wants a new four-lane, high-span fixed bridge in the vicinity of the current location and which terminates at Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara. “The new design of the Demerara Harbour Bridge will not require opening or retraction to allow for maritime traffic and will be built with a life span of at least 50 years,” the bidding document states.
Government has said that it may have to acquire those lands which fall into the path at the new location, which terminates at Nandy Park on the East Bank and La Grange on the West side, but a decision on that matter has not yet been made.
President Irfaan Ali had said that the new bridge would be a very high one standing at a minimum of 50 metres or as high as or higher than the Marriott Hotel to facilitate the clearance for vessels.
There has been a major controversy over the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency not to have an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project done. This decision has been appealed and comes up soon for hearing.
